Wandering Well · Day trips · United States

What are nice day trips from Asheville?

Short answer

Saluda, Johnson City, Elizabethton and Marion are some potential day trips within 60 miles of Asheville. Valle Crucis, Bristol, Blairsville and Lavonia are within 100 miles of Asheville. We list 15 places below, including 8 mountain villages (Gatlinburg and Highlands), 3 lake or river towns (Cullowhee and Hickory), 3 market towns (Lenoir) and 3 family getaways. More below.

Within 60 miles 8 places

Johnson City, United States
Gold

Johnson City

Washington County, Tennessee · United States

A compact brick-built city in the Tennessee uplands, Johnson City pairs a walkable downtown of historic churches and a lively café and restaurant scene with…

82 km away51 mi away More →
Marion, United States
Gold
Mountain villages

Marion

McDowell County, North Carolina · United States

Founded in 1844 and named for Revolutionary War general Francis Marion — the "Swamp Fox" of guerrilla warfare — this pocket-sized North Carolina county seat…

50 km away31 mi away More →
Elizabethton, United States
Gold
Mountain villages

Elizabethton

Carter County, Tennessee · United States

Elizabethton, the county seat of Carter County in Tennessee's mountain terrain, carries an outsized place in early American history: it was the site of the W…

89 km away55 mi away More →
Gatlinburg, United States
Gold
Mountain villages

Gatlinburg

Sevier County, Tennessee · United States

Gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this modest Tennessee resort town sits at the park's edge along U.S.

88 km away55 mi away More →
Saluda, United States
Gold
Mountain villages

Saluda

Polk County, North Carolina · United States

This small North Carolina village near the South Carolina state line sits in mountain terrain and is known for its place at the top of the Saluda Grade, once…

44 km away27 mi away More →
Highlands, United States
Gold
Mountain villages

Highlands

Macon County, North Carolina · United States

Small mountain town on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, Highlands sits within the Nantahala National Forest in western North Carolina and off…

84 km away52 mi away More →
Cullowhee, United States
Gold
Mountain villages

Cullowhee

Jackson County, North Carolina · United States

This compact university town on the Tuckasegee River in North Carolina's Jackson County, Cullowhee is home to Western Carolina University, whose 12,000 stude…

65 km away40 mi away More →
Spartanburg, United States
Gold

Spartanburg

Spartanburg County, South Carolina · United States

A walkable city in South Carolina's Upstate region with a dense food-and-drink scene in its centre and a concentration of historic churches, Spartanburg — ni…

91 km away57 mi away More →

Within 100 miles 7 places

Valle Crucis, United States
Gold
Mountain villages

Valle Crucis

Watauga County, North Carolina · United States

This small mountain hamlet in Watauga County, North Carolina, takes its name from the Latin for "Vale of the Cross," a reference to the valley where three st…

98 km away61 mi away More →
Gaffney, United States
Gold

Gaffney

Cherokee County, South Carolina · United States

Known as the "Peach Capital of South Carolina," Gaffney is a compact city in Cherokee County in the state's Upstate region, close to the mountains.

100 km away62 mi away More →
Lenoir, United States
Gold
Hiking & national-park bases

Lenoir

Caldwell County, North Carolina · United States

This Caldwell County seat in the foothills of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains has a centre with a notable concentration of historic churches.

98 km away61 mi away More →
Bristol, United States
Gold
Relaxing family getaways

Bristol

Sullivan County, Tennessee · United States

Recognized by the U.S.

116 km away72 mi away More →
Blairsville, United States
Gold
Mountain villages

Blairsville

Union County, Georgia · United States

This small mountain village in northern Georgia sits on the edge of Lake Nottely, formed in 1942 when the Tennessee Valley Authority dammed the Nottely River.

151 km away94 mi away More →
Hickory, United States
Gold
Inland waterside towns

Hickory

Catawba County, North Carolina · United States

A city in western North Carolina on the Catawba River, Hickory sits within sight of the mountains and has a centre with a concentration of historic churches.

110 km away69 mi away More →
Lavonia, United States
Gold
Food scenes & café towns

Lavonia

Franklin County, Georgia · United States

This little Georgia city in Franklin County sits near the water and offers a modest but real café and dining scene alongside several historic churches — more…

138 km away86 mi away More →